Solid surface countertop assembly

ABSTRACT

A countertop assembly having a solid surface countertop member with an upper surface and a bottom surface is disclosed. A supporting member and an edging member are disposed adjacent to the bottom surface of the countertop member opposite the upper surface of the countertop member. The supporting member and edging member both extend substantially along a length of the countertop member. Preferably, the edging member abuts a front surface of the supporting member substantially along an entire length of the supporting member. The edging member comprises a non-solid surface material, such as a plastic laminate material affixed to a substrate. The non-solid-surface material faces a front of the countertop assembly to form the countertop edging. The edging member is secured to the countertop member via an adhesive or via a dado cut in a bottom portion of the countertop member. In another embodiment of the present invention, the countertop assembly forms a curved countertop edging. The substrate of the edging member is preformed in a curved shape or comprises a plurality of vertical notches cut into the substrate such that said edging member is flexibly bendable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a countertop assembly, and morespecifically to a countertop assembly having a solid surface countertopmember and an edging member having a non-solid surface material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Several conventional countertop assemblies are known and used. Many suchconventional assemblies utilize a solid surface material such as CORIAN®as the upper surface of the countertop. CORIAN® is a well-known solidsurface material which is easy to clean, stain resistant, heatresistant, long-lasting, and which is commonly available in numerouscolors. Solid surface countertops also offer seamless acrylic faces withseams that are only visible from the underside of the countertop.However, solid surface materials are generally expensive.

The cost of the solid surface is exacerbated by the fact that generallya large stock sheet must be cut to obtain a much smaller edging piece.Most solid surface countertops are assembled by cutting a stock sheet ofthe solid surface material into the components necessary for assembly.For example, a conventional ½″×30″×145″ sheet of CORIAN® is usually cutto form the countertop member. Because the countertop member requiresmost of the sheet material, another sheet of CORIAN® must be cut toobtain the much smaller edging piece. Since another sheet of expensivesolid surface material must be used to cut the smaller edging piece,there is often a large amount of waste of expensive material. Inaggregate, the expense of using such extra sheets for the edging pieceis very costly.

Several conventional countertop assemblies are known, but suchcountertop assemblies do not disclose any means of providing a costeffective edging for a solid surface countertop. For example, U.S. Pat.No. 6,183,585, issued to Kelley, discloses a method for making comersfor laminate countertops having a laminate or veneer upper surface and alaminate or veneer vertical face. The method discloses an edge piecehaving a laminated strip and rectangular strips of another material,such as a solid surface material, secured to its face via notches.However, Kelley does not disclose a cost effective edging member for asolid surface countertop because one would still need to cut intoanother solid surface material sheet to obtain the rectangular stripsfor the edging member.

Other such conventional countertops have a solid surface deck and anedging of a different material. However, such countertops do not providea cost effective edging piece having the appearance and quality of thesolid surface countertop. For example, U.S. Publication No.2002/0124525, by Stoffer, discloses a countertop assembly having a solidsurface horizontal deck and a molded edge strip to produce a curvedfront edge and a method of manufacturing the assembly. The molded edgestrip is mated with the deck via a plurality of ridges or recesses. Themolding compound comprises appropriate resins, fillers, and pigments.While the edging piece is of a different material that the countertopsurface, the molded edge strip does not have a high quality appearance.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,952, issued to Nesovic, discloses amodular countertop system adapted to use materials such as naturalstone, synthetic stone-like materials, orceramics in a pre-formedmodular or block form. The system has a flat unedged surface supportedby a base component which has a peripheral recess. A pre-formedelongated edge facing has a rearward extending tongue which fits intothe recess. Though the edge facing may be of the same or a differentmaterial than the countertop surface, the edging piece of Nesovic alsodoes not have a high quality appearance.

Additionally, European Patent Application No. 99120846.3, by Oriseh,discloses a modular extruded countertop. Oriesh discloses a number ofmeans of coupling an edge portion for a countertop with a longitudinalcountertop component. The coupling means includes a tongue and grooveconnection, a tongue and groove assembly which adds a pin, a snap fitconnection, or a connection having a shaft with a bulbous end thatcouples with a cam lock which engages the shaft. Though Oriesh disclosesthat the edge portion may be of the same or a different material thanthe coutertop surface, Oriesh does not disclose a countertop having ahigh quality, cost effective edge portion of a different material.

Furthermore, conventional countertop assemblies require the edging pieceto be pre-formed when a curved countertop edging is desired. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,592, issued to Miskell, discloses a solidsurface edge treatment method and article for installing a plurality oftoruses. There is a solid surface countertop having a cantilevered edgewith a tongue extending outward therefrom. The cantilevered edge definesan edge to which a user desires to attach a plurality of toruses. Thetoruses have a groove which is adapted to correspond with the tongue ofthe cantilevered edge. The toruses are fully assembled prior to beingadhered to the tongue and may be formed into a torus having any angle,size, or shape which will correspond with the tongue. However, there isno margin for error with the pre-formed toruses and any imperfections inthe curved portion of the edging cannot be corrected without discardingthe edging pieces or reworking the pieces, both of which may requiresignificant expense.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a solid surfacecountertop having a an edging member which yields a high-qualityappearance, and which is optionally flexibly bendable.

SUMMARY

In view of the deficiencies described above, it is an object of thepresent invention to provide a solid surface countertop having a anedging member which yields a high-quality appearance, and which isoptionally flexibly bendable.

The present invention is a countertop assembly having a solid surfacecountertop member with an upper surface and a bottom surface. Asupporting member and an edging member are disposed adjacent the bottomsurface of the countertop member, opposite the upper surface of thecountertop member. The supporting member and edging member both extendsubstantially along a length of the countertop member. Preferably, theedging member abuts a front surface of the supporting membersubstantially along an entire length of the supporting member. Theedging member comprises a non-solid surface material affixed to asubstrate wherein the non-solid surface material faces a front of thecountertop assembly to form a countertop edging. Preferably, thenon-solid surface material is a plastic laminate material such asFORMICA®. Optionally, the edging member has a front finished surfacewhich is substantially similar in appearance to the upper surface of thecountertop member or is substantially similar in appearance to anunderlying cabinet.

There are multiple means to secure the edging member to the countertopmember. In one embodiment, there is a dado cut in the bottom surface ofthe countertop member which forms a recess which extends substantiallyalong a length of the countertop member. The dado is adapted to receivethe edging member for positioning of the edging member when the edgingmember is raised and pressed into the dado. Preferably, the edgingmember is held in place within the dado via an adhesive. In anotherembodiment, there is no dado cut in the countertop member.Alternatively, an adhesive is used to secure the supporting member tothe edging member and to secure the edging member to the supportingmember.

In further embodiments of the present invention, the countertop assemblyforms a curved countertop edging. In a preferred embodiment, thesupporting member has a curved formation having a contoured edge whichsubstantially follows a curved edge portion of the countertop member.The edging member is flexibly bendable to form a curved contoured edgingwhich substantially follows the contoured edge. The edging member isflexibly bendable because a plurality of vertical notches are cut intothe substrate of the edging member. In yet another embodiment, theedging member and dado are pre-formed into a mating curved formation.The dado is cut in the bottom surface of the countertop member and formsa recess which extends substantially along a length of the countertopmember. The dado is curved in shape and thus is adapted to receive asimilarly-shaped curved edging member. The present invention furtherincludes a method for assembling each of the embodiments discussedherein.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with the followingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of yet another embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understandingthat the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification ofthe principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broadaspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

The present invention is a countertop assembly 10 having a solid surfacecountertop member 20 with an upper surface 30 and a bottom surface 40.The solid surface material is preferably CORIAN®, but may be any othersuitable material. A supporting member 50 and an edging member 60 aredisposed adjacent to the bottom surface 40 of the countertop member 20,opposite the upper surface 30 of the countertop member 20. Thesupporting member 50 and edging member 60 both extend substantiallyalong a length of the countertop member 20. Preferably, the edgingmember 60 abuts a front surface 70 of the supporting member 50substantially along a length of the supporting member 50 to form acountertop edging 80.

The edging member 60 comprises a non-solid surface material 90 affixedto a substrate 100. The non-solid surface material 90 is preferably aplastic laminate material 90, such as Vertical Grade Plastic Laminate orFormica®, or is optionally any other suitable material which provides anappearance similar in quality to the solid surface countertop member 20.Optionally, the edging member 60 has a front finished surface 65 whichis substantially similar in appearance to the upper surface 30 of thecountertop member 20 or is substantially similar in appearance to anunderlying cabinet.

The non-solid surface material 90 is affixed to the substrate 100 by anadhesive, such as a silicone adhesive or contact cement, or via anyother suitable means. The substrate 100 is preferably substantiallycomposed of medium density fiberboard, but is optionally any othersuitable material. The supporting member 50 is preferably composed of ¾inch 45# density particle board, but is optionally any other suitablematerial. Preferably, the plastic laminate material 90 has a width of{fraction (1/32)} inch while the substrate 100 has a width of ¾ inch.When the edging member 60 is secured to the countertop member 20, thenon-solid surface material 90 faces a front of the countertop assembly20 to form the countertop edging 80. Preferably, a front edge 95 of theedging member 60 is set back from a front edge 105 of the countertopmember 100 by a depth of ¾ inch.

There are multiple means of securing the edging member 60 to thecountertop member 20. In one embodiment, there is a dado 110 cut in thebottom surface 40 of the countertop member 20 which forms a recess 120extending substantially along a length of the countertop member 20. Thedado 110 is preferably {fraction (1/16)} inch in depth and {fraction(13/16)} inch in width. The dado 110 is adapted to receive the edgingmember 60 for positioning of the edging member 60 when the edging member60 is raised and pressed into the dado 110. Preferably, the edgingmember 60 is held in place within the dado 110 via an adhesive, such asa silicone adhesive, or via any other suitable adhesive. In anotherembodiment, there is no dado 110 cut in the bottom surface 40 of thecountertop member 20. Alternatively, an adhesive is used to secure thecomponents to form the countertop assembly 10. For example, an adhesiveis used to adhere the supporting member 50 to the countertop member 20.The same or similar adhesive is also used to secure the edging member 60to the supporting member 50. The adhesive may also be a siliconeadhesive or any other suitable adhesive.

In further embodiments of the present invention, the countertop assembly10 forms a curved countertop edging 130. In a preferred embodiment, thesupporting member 50 has a curved formation 135 having a contoured edge140 which substantially follows a curved edge portion 145 of thecountertop member 20. The edging member 60 is flexibly bendable to forma curved contoured edging 155 which substantially follows the contourededge 140. The edging member 60 is flexibly bendable because a pluralityof vertical notches 150 are cut into the substrate 100 of the edgingmember 60. Preferably, the notches 150 are rectangular, but areoptionally of any other suitable shape which allows the edging member 60to be flexible.

In yet another embodiment, the edging member 60 and dado 110 arepre-formed into a mating curved formation 160. The dado 110 is cut in acurved shape in the bottom surface 40 of the countertop member 20 andforms a recess 120 which extends substantially along a length of thecountertop member 20. The dado 110 is adapted to receive the edgingmember 60 which is flexibly bendable due to the plurality of verticalnotches 150 cut in the substrate 100 of the edging member 60. Thepresent invention further includes a method for assembling each of theembodiments discussed herein.

The present invention also includes a method for assembling a countertopassembly of the embodiments discussed herein. A preferred method ofassembling a countertop assembly of the present invention comprises thesteps of providing a solid surface countertop member 20 having an uppersurface 30 and a bottom surface 40, disposing a supporting member 50adjacent the bottom surface 40 of the countertop member 20 opposite theupper surface 30 and extending substantially along a length of thecountertop member 20, providing an edging member 60 comprising anon-solid surface material 90 affixed to a substrate 100, disposing theedging member 60 adjacent to the bottom surface 40 of the countertopmember 20 opposite the upper surface 30, extending the edging member 60substantially along a length of the countertop member 20, and disposingthe non-solid surface material 90 such that the non-solid surfacematerial 90 faces a front of the countertop assembly 20 to form acountertop edging 130.

The solid surface material is preferably CORIAN®, but is optionally anyother suitable material. The non-solid surface material 90 is preferablya plastic laminate material such as Vertical Grade Plastic Laminate orFormica®, but is optionally any other suitable material which providesan appearance similar to the solid surface countertop member 20. Thenon-solid surface material 90 is affixed to the substrate 100 via acontact cement or any other suitable adhesive. The substrate 100 ispreferably substantially composed of medium density fiberboard. Thesupporting member 50 is preferably substantially composed of ¾ inch 45#density particle board. Preferably, the plastic laminate material 90 hasa width of {fraction (1/32)} inch, while the substrate 100 has a widthof ¾ inch. A front edge of the edging member 60 is preferably set backfrom a front edge of the countertop member 100 by a depth of ¾ inch. Theedging member 60 preferably abuts a front surface 70 of the supportingmember 50 substantially along a length of the supporting member 50 toform a countertop edging 80.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the countertop assembly10 forms a curved countertop edging 130. A preferred method ofassembling a curved countertop edging includes the steps of providing asolid surface countertop member 20 having an upper surface 30 and abottom surface 40, disposing a supporting member 50 adjacent the bottomsurface of the countertop member 20 opposite the upper surface 50 andextending substantially along a length of said countertop member 20,providing an edging member 60 comprising a non-solid surface material 90affixed to a substrate 100, disposing the edging member 60 adjacent tothe bottom surface 40 of the countertop member 20 opposite the uppersurface 30, extending the edging member 60 substantially along a lengthof the countertop member 20, disposing the non-solid surface material 90such that the non-solid surface material 90 faces a front of thecountertop assembly 20 to form a countertop edging 130, wherein thesupporting member 50 comprises a curved formation 135 having a contourededge 140 which substantially follows a curved edge portion 145 of thecountertop member 20, and wherein the edging member 20 is flexiblybendable to form a contoured countertop edging 155 which substantiallyfollows the contoured edge 140. The edging member 60 is flexiblybendable because a plurality of vertical notches 150 are cut into thesubstrate 100 of the edging member 60. Preferably, the notches 150 arerectangular, but are optionally of any other suitable shape which allowsthe edging member 60 to be flexible.

In yet another embodiment, the edging member 60 and dado 110 arepre-formed into a mating curved formation 160. A method of assemblingthe mating curved formation 160 includes the steps of providing a solidsurface countertop member 20 having an upper surface 30 and a bottomsurface 40, disposing a supporting member 50 adjacent to the bottomsurface 40 of the countertop member 20 opposite the upper surface 30 andextending substantially along a length of the countertop member 20,providing an edging member 60 comprising a non-solid surface material 90affixed to a substrate 100, disposing said edging member 60 adjacent thebottom surface 40 of the countertop member 20 opposite the upper surface30, extending the edging member 60 substantially along a length of thecountertop member 20, disposing the non-solid surface material 90 suchthat the non-solid surface material 90 faces a front of the countertopassembly 10 to form a countertop edging 130, cutting a dado 110 in thebottom surface 40 of the countertop member 20 to form a recess 120 whichextends substantially along a length of the countertop member 20 adaptedto receive the edging member 60, and pre-forming the edging member 60and the dado 110 into a curved formation. The edging member 60 which isflexibly bendable due to a plurality of vertical notches 150 cut in thesubstrate 100 of the edging member 60.

While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described,numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing fromthe spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limitedby the scope of the accompanying claims.

1. A countertop assembly comprising: a solid surface countertop memberhaving an upper surface and a bottom surface, a supporting memberdisposed adjacent the bottom surface of said countertop member oppositethe upper surface and extending substantially along a length of saidcountertop member, and an edging member comprising a non-solid surfacematerial, said edging member disposed adjacent the bottom surface ofsaid countertop member opposite the upper surface and extendingsubstantially along a length of said countertop member, said non-solidsurface material facing a front of said countertop assembly to form acountertop edging.
 2. The countertop assembly according to claim 1,wherein said non-solid surface material is a plastic laminate materialaffixed to a substrate.
 3. The countertop assembly according to claim 2,wherein said substrate is substantially composed of medium densityfiberboard.
 4. The countertop assembly according to claim 1, whereinsaid edging member abuts a front surface of said supporting membersubstantially along an entire length of said supporting member to formthe countertop edging.
 5. The countertop assembly according to claim 1,further comprising a dado cut in the bottom surface of said countertopmember forming a recess extending substantially along a length of saidcountertop member to receive said edging member for positioning of theedging member.
 6. The countertop assembly according to claim 5, whereinsaid edging member is held in place within said dado via an adhesive. 7.The countertop assembly according to claim 5, wherein said dado isapproximately {fraction (1/16)} inch in depth and approximately{fraction (13/16)} inch in width.
 8. The countertop assembly accordingto claim 1, wherein said supporting member is secured to said countertopmember via an adhesive.
 9. The countertop assembly according to claim 1,wherein said edging member is secured to said supporting member via anadhesive.
 10. The countertop assembly according to claim 1, wherein saidsupporting member is substantially composed of particle board.
 11. Thecountertop assembly according to claim 1, wherein said non-solid surfacematerial has a width of approximately {fraction (1/32)} inch and saidsubstrate has a width of approximately ¾ inch.
 12. The countertopassembly according to claim 1, wherein a front edge of said edgingmember is parallel to and set back from a front edge of the countertopmember by a depth of approximately ¾ inch.
 13. The countertop assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein said edging member has a front finishedsurface which is substantially similar in appearance to the uppersurface of the countertop.
 14. The countertop assembly according toclaim 1, wherein said edging member has a front finished surface whichis substantially similar in appearance to an underlying cabinet.
 15. Acountertop assembly comprising: a solid surface countertop member havingan upper surface and a bottom surface, a supporting member disposedadjacent the bottom surface of said countertop member opposite the uppersurface and extending substantially along a length of said countertopmember, and an edging member comprising a non-solid surface material,said edging member disposed adjacent the bottom surface of saidcountertop member opposite the upper surface and extending substantiallyalong a length of said countertop member, said non-solid surface facinga front of said countertop assembly to form a countertop edging, whereinsaid supporting member comprises a curved formation having a contourededge which substantially follows a curved edge portion of saidcountertop member, and wherein said edging member is flexibly bendableto form a contoured countertop edging which substantially follows thecontoured edge.
 16. The countertop assembly according to claim 15,wherein said non-solid surface material is a plastic laminate materialaffixed to a substrate.
 17. The countertop assembly according to claim16, wherein said substrate is substantially composed of medium densityfiberboard.
 18. The countertop assembly according to claim 16, whereinsaid substrate comprises a plurality of vertical notches cut into saidsubstrate such that said edging member is flexibly bendable.
 19. Thecountertop assembly according to claim 18, wherein said plurality ofnotches are substantially rectangular in shape.
 20. The countertopassembly according to claim 15, wherein said edging member abuts a frontsurface of said supporting member substantially along an entire lengthof said supporting member to form the countertop edging.
 21. Thecountertop assembly according to claim 15, further comprising a dado cutin the bottom surface of said countertop member forming a recessextending substantially along a length of said countertop member toreceive said edging member for positioning of said edging member. 22.The countertop assembly according to claim 21, wherein said edgingmember is held in place within said dado via an adhesive.
 23. Thecountertop assembly according to claim 21, wherein said dado isapproximately {fraction (1/16)} inch in depth and approximately{fraction (13/16)} inch in width.
 24. The countertop assembly accordingto claim 15, wherein said supporting member is secured to saidcountertop member via an adhesive.
 25. The countertop assembly accordingto claim 15, wherein said edging member is secured to said supportingmember via an adhesive.
 26. The countertop assembly according to claim15, wherein said supporting member is substantially composed of particleboard.
 27. The countertop assembly according to claim 15, wherein saidnon-solid surface material has a width of approximately {fraction(1/32)} inch and said substrate has a width of approximately ¾ inch. 28.The countertop assembly according to claim 15, wherein a front edge ofsaid edging member is set back from a front edge of the countertopmember by a depth of approximately ¾ inch.
 29. The countertop assemblyaccording to claim 15, wherein said edging member has a front finishedsurface which is substantially similar in appearance to the uppersurface of the countertop.
 30. The countertop assembly according toclaim 15, wherein said edging member has a front finished surface whichis substantially similar in appearance to an underlying cabinet.
 31. Acountertop assembly comprising: a solid surface countertop member havingan upper surface and a bottom surface, a supporting member disposedadjacent the bottom surface of said countertop member opposite the uppersurface and extending substantially along a length of said countertopmember, an edging member comprising a non-solid surface material, saidedging member disposed adjacent the bottom surface of said countertopmember opposite the upper surface and extending substantially along alength of said countertop member, said non-solid surface facing a frontof said countertop assembly to form a countertop edging, and a dado cutin the bottom surface of said countertop member forming a recess whichextends substantially along a length of said countertop member toreceive said edging member, wherein said edging member and said dado arepre-formed into a curved formation.
 32. The countertop assemblyaccording to claim 31, wherein said non-solid surface material is aplastic laminate material affixed to a substrate.
 33. The countertopassembly according to claim 32, wherein said substrate is substantiallycomposed of medium density fiberboard.
 34. The countertop assemblyaccording to claim 32, wherein said substrate comprises a plurality ofvertical notches cut into said substrate such that said edging member isflexibly bendable.
 35. The countertop assembly according to claim 34,wherein said plurality of notches are substantially rectangular inshape.
 36. The countertop assembly according to claim 31, wherein saidedging member abuts a front surface of said supporting membersubstantially along an entire length of said supporting member to formthe countertop edging.
 37. The countertop assembly according to claim31, wherein said edging member is held in place within said dado via anadhesive.
 38. The countertop assembly according to claim 31, whereinsaid dado is approximately {fraction (1/16)} inch in depth andapproximately {fraction (13/16)} inch in width.
 39. The countertopassembly according to claim 31, wherein said supporting member issecured to said countertop member via an adhesive.
 40. The countertopassembly according to claim 31, wherein said edging member is secured tosaid supporting member via an adhesive.
 41. The countertop assemblyaccording to claim 31, wherein said supporting member is substantiallycomposed of particle board.
 42. The countertop assembly according toclaim 31, wherein a front edge of said edging member is set back from afront edge of the countertop member by a depth of approximately ¾ inch.43. The countertop assembly according to claim 31, wherein said edgingmember has a front finished surface which is substantially similar inappearance to the upper surface of the countertop.
 44. The countertopassembly according to claim 31, wherein said edging member has a frontfinished surface which is substantially similar in appearance to anunderlying cabinet.
 45. A method of assembling a countertop assemblycomprising: providing a solid surface countertop member having an uppersurface and a bottom surface, disposing a supporting member adjacent thebottom surface of said countertop member opposite the upper surface andextending substantially along a length of said countertop member,providing an edging member comprising a non-solid surface material,disposing said edging member adjacent the bottom surface of saidcountertop member opposite the upper surface, extending said edgingmember substantially along a length of said countertop member, anddisposing said non-solid surface material such that said non-solidsurface material faces a front of said countertop assembly to form acountertop edging.
 46. The method according to claim 45, wherein saidnon-solid surface material is a plastic laminate material affixed to asubstrate.
 47. The method according to claim 45, further comprisingabutting said edging member against a front surface of said supportingmember substantially along an entire length of said supporting member toform the countertop edging.
 48. The method according to claim 45,further comprising cutting a dado in the bottom surface of saidcountertop member to form a recess extending substantially along alength of said countertop member to receive said edging member forpositioning of said edging member.
 49. A method of assembling acountertop assembly comprising: providing a solid surface countertopmember having an upper surface and a bottom surface, disposing asupporting member adjacent the bottom surface of said countertop memberopposite the upper surface and extending substantially along a length ofsaid countertop member, providing an edging member comprising anon-solid surface material, disposing said edging member adjacent thebottom surface of said countertop member opposite the upper surface,extending said edging member substantially along a length of saidcountertop member, and disposing said non-solid surface material suchthat said non-solid surface material faces a front of said countertopassembly to form a countertop edging, wherein said supporting membercomprises a curved formation having a contoured edge which substantiallyfollows a curved edge portion of said countertop member, and whereinsaid edging member is flexibly bendable to form a contoured countertopedging which substantially follows the contoured edge.
 50. The methodaccording to claim 49, wherein said non-solid surface material is aplastic laminate material affixed to a substrate.
 51. The methodaccording to claim 49, wherein said substrate comprises a plurality ofvertical notches cut into said substrate such that said edging member isflexibly bendable.
 52. The method according to claim 49, furthercomprising abutting said edging member against a front surface of saidsupporting member substantially along an entire length of saidsupporting member to form the countertop edging.
 53. The methodaccording to claim 49, further comprising cutting a dado in the bottomsurface of said countertop member forming a recess extendingsubstantially along a length of said countertop member to receive saidedging member for positioning of said edging member.
 54. A method ofassembling a countertop assembly comprising: providing a solid surfacecountertop member having an upper surface and a bottom surface,disposing a supporting member adjacent the bottom surface of saidcountertop member opposite the upper surface and extending substantiallyalong a length of said countertop member, and providing an edging membercomprising a non-solid surface material affixed to a substrate,disposing said edging member adjacent the bottom surface of saidcountertop member opposite the upper surface, extending said edgingmember substantially along a length of said countertop member, disposingsaid non-solid surface material such that said non-solid surfacematerial faces a front of said countertop assembly to form a countertopedging, cutting a dado in the bottom surface of said countertop memberto form a recess which extends substantially along a length of saidcountertop member adapted to receive said edging member, and pre-formingsaid edging member and said dado into a curved formation.
 55. The methodaccording to claim 54, further comprising abutting said edging memberagainst a front surface of said supporting member substantially along anentire length of said supporting member to form the countertop edging.